The panorama of the 2022 NBA playoffs has details that give its authentic touch to the fight for the title. From teams with long droughts without a trophy, to young profiles who seek to earn respect for the quality of play they show by exceeding 30 points per game.
In June, the players who will wear the ring will be known, after the eight best teams in each Conference show who is in favor of the scoreboard in seven games and subsequently, have passed the final rounds. The Milwaukee Bucks are the current champions and the Phoenix Suns, finalists of the last edition, but they do not have an easy path. Eleven teams have never won an NBA title, which equates to 36% of the league, and six of them appear in the West playoff field this year. Since their first season in the NBA, the Nuggets and the Suns have accumulated the most years, since 1967 and 1968, respectively. They are followed by: Jazz (1974), Timberwolves (1989), Grizzlies (1995) and Pelicans (2002). And, in the same contest, two teams that hold the highest number of titles in the league are still alive: the Minneapolis Wolves (15) and the Boston Celtics (17).
The Suns have always been very close to the title, winning the Western Conference on three different occasions. In 1976 they were defeated by the Boston Celtics; in 1993 they fell to the Lakers and the Spurs in the process. In the 2021 NBA Finals, the Suns were defeated in six games by the Bucks, a team that was dragging a 50-year drought.
For the first time in years, the Eastern Conference has multiple teams that seem capable of winning a title, from the Miami Heat to the Boston Celtics to the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. And then there are the Brooklyn Nets, once the favorites to win the title, with one of the most competent offensive duos in the NBA in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Dallas Mavericks excelled to reach the NBA Finals, but now they may not even make it past the first round due to Luka Doncic’s calf injury, which will keep him out for at least the first few games of their NBA series. opening against the Utah Jazz.
The NBA collects a prize for all playoff teams at each stage, and then the amount is distributed among the teams. According to US media, the prize money for the 2022-21 season was around 25 million dollars.
Featured players of the season
As for the players that will mark the season, according to the selection made by the NBA, three finalist names already stand out in the six main prizes determined by the media. For the Most Valuable Player: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Nicolás Jokic (Denver Nuggets). The race for MVP has been among the closest in recent league history. All three players have their clubs in contention for the crown.
The Cameroonian led the 76ers to an opening victory over Toronto, while Serb Jokic led the Nuggets in their opening loss to Golden State and Greek star Antetokounmpo, the 2019 and 2020 MVP, leads Milwaukee against Chicago in the first round. .
The player most value
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Defensive Player of the Year
Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
Rookie of the Year
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Evan MobleyCleveland Cavaliers
Coach of the Year
Taylor JenkinsMemphis Grizzlies
Erik SpoelstraMiami Heat
Monty Williams, Phoenix Suns